Feeding mechanism for crackers or the like



March 10,1959 D. F. BREMNER, JR 2,876,929

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CRACKERS OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 7, 1955 5Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS March 1959 D. F. BREMNER, JR 2,876,929

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CRACKERS OR THE' LIKE Filed Dec. 7, 1955 5Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR 74 v DAVID E BREMNERJJR. BY

07M) 7% 3 I F G. 2 v M ATTORNEYS March 1959 D. F. BREMNER, JR 2,87 2

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CRACKE'RS OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 7', 1955 5Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGS - I NVENTOR DAVID E BREMNERQJR.

ATTORNEYS March 10,1959 D. F. BREMNER, JR 2,876,929

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR- CRACKERS OR'THE LIKE,

Filed Dec. 7, 1955 5 Sheet s-Sh eet 5 EJECTOR MOVEMENT CARRIAGE MOVEMENTPLATFORM MOVEMENT RELATING TO CARRIAGE MOVEMENT OR I PPER PEN OPERATIONTIME I NVENTOR DAVID E BREMNER;JR. BY 7 I (9% 7k H I ATTORNEYS FEEDINGMECHANISM FOR CRACKERS OR THE LIKE David F. Bremuer, Jun, Louisville,Ky. Application December 7, 1955, Serial No. 551,641 3 Qlaims. (Cl.221-207) This invention relates to a mechanism for feeding fiatarticles, such as crackers, cookies or the like.

One principal object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved mechanism for feeding crackers or the like from a magazine orother source of supply in small stacks or batches, each of which willcontain a predetermined number of the crackers.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanismthat will feed counted stacks of crackers or the like so that the stacksmay subsequently be wrapped individually for packaging and shipment.

A further object is to provide a new and improved cracker feedingmechanism of the foregoing character which may be adjusted to insureaccurate count and to vary the count in the stacks delivered by themechanism.

it is another object to provide a new and improved cracker feedingmechanism of the foregoing character which may be operated at high speedyet will handle the crackers gently and without substantial breakage.

A further object is to provide such a new and imroved cracker feedingmechanism which is dependable and effective in operation, yet isreasonably simple in construction and low in cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear fromthe following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a cracker feeding mechanismconstituting an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a right side elevational view mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary, partly diagrammatic front elevationalviews showing portions of the feeding mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a graphical diagram indicating the sequence of certainoperations in the feeding mechanism.

Fig. 7 is another fragmentary front elevational sectional View showinganother portion of the feeding mechanism.

The drawings illustrate a mechanism 10 adapted to feed fiat articles,such as crackers or cookies, in individual stacks containing apredetermined number of the articles. The stacks of crackers or the likedelivered by the mechanism 10 may subsequently be wrapped individuallyfor packaging and shipment. The wrapping may be accomplished manually orby means of a suitable wrapping mechanism (not shown).

The cracker feeding mechanism 16) is actually dual in construction, inthat it embodies twin feeders 12 and 14 for delivering two stacks ofcrackers simultaneously. In all material respects, the two feeders 12and 14 are identical in construction. Accordingly, most of the followingdetailed description will be directed to the front feeder 12.

To hold a supply of crackers or other flat articles, the feeder 12 isequipped with a magazine 16 adapted to receive the crackers in anelongated vertical stack.

of the feeding atent- 2,876,929 Patented Mar. 10, 1959 2 It will beunderstood that the crackers are adapted to descend by gravity throughthe magazine 16 and to emerge from the lower end of the magazine throughan opening 18.

For the purpose of supporting the lower end of the elongated stack ofcrackers in the magazine 16, the feeder 12 is provided with a supportingmember or platform 28 located below the lower end of the magazine 16 andunderneath the discharge opening 18 of the magazine. In this instance,the platform comprises a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel andhorizontal rods 22 having downwardly bent rear portions 24 mountedrigidly on a supporting horizontal bar 26;. To provide for verticalreciprocating movement of the platform 20, the bar 26 is mounted on adownwardly extending vertically slidable bar 28.

Initially, the platform 20. is moved downwardly by an amountcorresponding to the desired height of the individual stacks of crackersto be counted out and delivered by the feeding mechanism 10. Thedownward movement of the platform 20 lowers the entire stack of crackersin the magazine 16 by a corresponding amount. Such downward movement ofthe platform 20 might be effected in various ways, but, in thisinstance, the downward movement is brought about by means of a cam 30(Figs. 1 and 4). It will be seen that the cam 30 is rotatably mounted ona shaft 32 supported for bodily movement by a swingable carriage 34. Asillustrated, the carriage 34 simply comprises a pair of arms 36 whichare pivoted on a shaft 38 and are connected rigidly together by means ofa crossbar 4d. The cam shaft 32 is journalled between the arms 36. Inthis instance, the shaft 38 constitutes the main drive shaft for thefeeding mechanism It). The shaft 38 may be rotated continuously by meansof any suitable motor or other source of power (not shown). A chaindrive 42 is connected between the shafts 38 and 32 to provide forcontinuous rotation of the, cam 30.

The cam is operatively connected to the vertically movable platform 20by means of suitable linkage, which, in this instance, comprises anL-shaped lever 44 pivoted on the main drive shaft 38. The freelyswingable outer end of the lever 44 is pivotally connected to adepending link 46 which, in turn, is pivoted to a lug 48 mounted on ahorizontal bar 50 which extends between the vertical slide bars 28 ofthe twin feeders 12 and 14. A roller 52 is rotatably mounted on the arm44 to engage and follow the cam 30. The weight of the platforms 2%), thearm 44 and the linkage connected therebetwcen is effective to bias theroller 52 against the cam 30.

It will be seen from Fig. 4 that the cam 30 has a falling portion 54 ofdecreasing radius which is eifective to lower the platform 20. Thegeneral configuration of the cam 30 is indicated in Fig. 6 by a graph39a having a downwardly sloping portion 54a representing the fallingportion 54 of the cam.

After the desired amount of downward movement, the platform 20 isarrested. While this might be brought about in various ways, it iseffected in the present instance by means of an adjustable stop 56 inthe form of a screw stud threadedly mounted on the carriage 34. Thethreaded stop 56 is disposed underneath the arm 44 so that the arm willengage the stop. In this way, the downward movement imparted to the arm44 by the cam 30 will be arrested by the stop 56. By adjusting theheight of the stop 56, the lowered position of the arm 44 may be varied.In this way, it is possible to adjust the amount by which the elongatedstack of crackers is lowered by the initial downward movement of theplatform 20.

After the initial downward movement of the platform 20 has beencompleted, the crackers in the elongated .the main drive shaft 38.

stack supplied by the magazine 16 are engaged at a point spaced abovethe position of the platform. In thisway, the upper portion of theelongated stack is prevented "from moving downwardly any farther, duringthe remainder of the cycle of :operation, while the lower portion of'the stack is left free for further downwardmovement. The upper portionof the stack might be engaged and supported in various ,ways, but, inthis instance, :the upper portion of the stack is supported bygrippers58 andv 60 adapted to engage opposite sides of thestack justabove the initial position of the platform 20. In this instance, thegrippers 58 and 60 take the form ofdepending swingable fingers which arecarried on shafts 62 and 64, two of the fingers being mounted. on eachshaft. A pad 66 of rubber or other soft, resilient material is mountedon each of the gripping fingers 58 and 60 to prevent breakage of thecrackers.

It. will be understood that the gripping fingers 58 and 60 are openduring the initial downward movement of the platform 20. After theplatform 20 has been moved downwardly the desired distance below thelower ends or the grippers 58 and 60 the grippers are closed. Variousmeans might be provided to open and close the grippers 58 and 60, but,in this instance, the grippers are operated by means of a cam 68 (Fig.It will be seen that the cam 68 is fixed on a rotatable shaft 70. Achain drive 72 is connected between the shaft 70 and In this way, theshaft 70 is rotated continuously.

The cam 68 is operatively connected to the grippers 58 and 60 by asuitable linkage, illustrated as including an L-shaped bell crank lever74 swingable about a pivot 76 and having a relatively short, generallyvertical arm 78 and a relatively long, generally horizontal arm 80. Thepivot 76 is mounted on a stationary frame bracket 81, as shown to bestadvantage in Fig. 5. A roller 82 is mounted on the shorter arm 78 and isadapted to engage and follow the cam 68. A spring 84 is connected to thelonger arm 80 in such a manner as to bias the lever 74 in acounterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 5, and thereby hold thefollower roller 82 against the cam 68.

It will be seen that a substantially vertical linkage rod 86 ispivotally connected at its lower end to the generally horizontal arm 80.The upper end of the rod 86 is pivotally connected to a generallyhorizontal arm .88 mounted on a shaft 90. Bevel gears 92 and 94 areemployed to connect the shaft 90 to the gripper shaft 62. It will beseen from Fig. 3 that the shaft 90 extends forwardly from the arm 88 andis arranged to actuate both of the twin feeders 12 and 14. Thus, twinsets of the bevel gears 92 and 94 are employed to connect the shaft 90to the gripper shafts 62 of the respective feeders 12 and 14.

For each of the twin feeders 12 and 14, the grippers 58 and 60 areinterconnected by means of arms 96 and 98 mounted on the respectivegripper shafts 62 and 64. A pin-and-slot connection 100 is providedbetween the ends of the arms 96 and 98 so that swinging movement of thearm 96 will result in corresponding but oppositely directed swingingmovement of the arm 98. In this way the grippers 58 and 60 will moveinwardly and outwardly in unison.

The action of the spring 84 is such as to bias the grippers 58 and 60inwardly, toward their closed positions. Thus, the spring 84 tends tomove the grippers against the lower end of the stack of crackers held inthe magazine 16.

During the initial downward movement of the platform 20, the camfollower roller 82 engages a substantially circular, relatively highportion 102 of the cam 68. Thus, the cam 68 holds the grippers 58 andaway from the stack, against the biasing action of the spring 84. Aftercompletion of the initial downward movement of the stack, the followerroller 82 traverses a falling portion 104 of the'cam 68. Thus, the cam68 presents a decreasing radius to the roller 82 so as to permit thespring 84 to close the grippers 58 and 60. In Fig. 6, the action of thecam 68 is represented by a graph 68a. A horizontal portion 102a of thegraph 68a represents the circular portion 102 of the cam 68. In like1nanner,.a downwardly sloping. portion 104a of the graph represents thefalling portion 104 of the cam.

After the grippers 58 and 60 have closed upon the stack of crackers inthe magazine 16, the platform 20 is moved downwardly an additionaldistance to separate the portion of the stack below the grippers fromthe remainder of the stack supported by the grippers. This additionalmovement of the platform might be effected in various ways, but, in thepresent case, the additional downward movement is brought about byswinging the carriage 34 downwardly so as to shift the cam 30 bodily bya corresponding amount. The downward movement is imparted to thecarriage 34 by means of a cam 106, which is mounted on the shaft 70. Aroller 108 is mounted on the carriage 34 to engage and follow the cam106. The weight of the carriage 34 and the platform 20 is utilized tobias the roller 108 against the cam 106.

During the initial downward movement of the platform 20 and thesubsequent closing movement of the grippers 58 and 60, the carriage 34is held in a raised position by means of a substantially circular,relatively high portion 118 of the cam 106. After the grippers 58 and 60have closed upon the stack, the roller 108 encounters a falling portion112 of the cam, with the result that the carriage 34 is lowered.Corresponding lowering movement is imparted to the platform 20.Accordingly, the lower portion of the stack, below the grippers 58 and60 is moved downwardly from the upper portion of the stack, supported bythe grippers. Due to the adiustment of the threaded stop 56, the smallstack supported by the platform 20 contains the desired number ofcrackers to be fed by the mechanism 10.

The counted stack of crackers on the platform 20 is next removed fromthe platform. This might be done in various ways, but in this instance,the crackers are pushed off the platform 20 onto a conveyor 114 (Fig. 1)by means of an ejector 116. As illustrated, the ejector 116 comprises aplurality of substantially parallel and vertical rods 118 which arearranged to mesh with the horizontal rods 22 of the platform 20. Theejector rods 118 have forwardly bent lower end portions 120 which arefixedly mounted on a horizontal bar 122 extending across the twinfeeders 12 and 14. Thus, the ejectors 116 of both feeders 12 and 14 areactuated in common by the bar 122.

To support the eiectors 116 for substantially horizontal movement, thebar 122 is connected rigidly between a pair of horizontal linkage bars124, constituting elements of twin parallelogram linkages. Each of thelinkages also comprises a pair of generally vertical arms 126 and 128having their upper ends pivotally connected to the opposite ends of thebar 124. The parallel bars 126 and 128 are supported adjacent theirlower ends on pivots 130 and 132. As shown to best advantage in Figs. 1and 4, the pivots 130 and 132, are mounted on stationary frame brackets131 and 133.

The ejectors 116 are actuated by means of a cam 134, which, in thisinstance, is provided with a cam groove or track 136 so that the camwill be double acting. A roller 138 is received in the groove 136 and ismounted on a yoke 142 having arms 144 and 146 which straddle the camshaft 70. A pivot block 148 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 70 and isreceived between the arms 144 and 146 of the yoke. In this way, the yoke142 is mounted for a combination of swinging and sliding movement withrespect to the shaft 70.

It will be seen that a rod 150 is fixed at one end on the yoke 142 andis pivotally connected at its other end to the lower end of an arm 152which is swingable about the pivot 132 and is rigidly connected to thelinkage arm 128. Thus, the cam 134 is effective to swing the linkage arm128 and thereby impart substantially horizontal reciprocating movementto the ejector 116. It will be understood that the ejector rods 118 movebetween the platform rods 22 so that there is never any interferencebetween the movement of the platform and the ejector.

During the downward movement of the platform 20, the follower roller 138rides along a substantially circular portion 154 of the cam groove 136.After the cam 106 has lowered the carriage 34 to bring the platform 20to its lowermost position, the follower roller 138 encounters a risingportion 156 of the cam groove 136. Accordingly, the ejector 116 isadvanced to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, so as to dischargethe crackers from the platform 20 onto the conveyor 114. It will beunderstood that the conveyor 114 is efiective to carry the countedstacks of crackers to a wrapping mechanism or the like.

During the intervals in which the carriage 34 is being lowered and theejector 116 is being advanced, the roller 52 is opposite a circular,relatively high portion 158 of the cam 30 with the result that the arm44 remains against the stop 56. In Fig. 6, a horizontal portion 158a ofthe graph 30a corresponds to the circular portion 138 of the cam 30.

During the interval in which the ejector 116 is being advanced, the camroller 108 rides along a substantially circular portion 160 of the cam106. Accordingly, the carriage 34 remains in its lowermost position. InFig. 6, the movement of the carriage 34 is represented by a graph 106a,having portions 110a, 112a and 160a corresponding to the portions 110,112 and 160 of the cam 106.

After the counted stack of crackers has been ejected from the platform20, the ejector 116 is retracted by a falling portion 162 of the camgroove 136. In Fig. 6, the movement of the ejector 116 is represented bya graph 134a having portions 154a, 156a and 162a corresponding to theportions 154, 156 and 162 of the cam 134.

Simultaneously with the retraction of the ejector 116, the carriage 34is returned upwardly to its initial position by a rising portion 164 ofthe cam 106. This portion is represented by a portion 164a of the graph106a in Fig. 6. At the same time, the platform 120 is raised to itsinitial position by a rising portion 166 on the cam 30. In the graph 30aof Fig. 6, the rising portion 166 of the cam 30 is represented by aportion 166a.

While the carriage 34 is being lowered and the ejector 116 is beingadvanced and retracted, the roller 82 rides along a circular portion 167on the cam 68, represented at 167a in Fig. 6. After the platform 20 hasbeen raised to its initial position and the ejector 116 has beenretracted fully, the grippers 158 and 160 are opened by a rising portion168 on the cam 68. This portion of the cam 68 is represented by aportion 168a of the graph 68a in Fig. 6. While the grippers are beingopened, the cam roller 52 rides along a substantially circular,relatively high portion 170 of the cam 30, this portion beingrepresented by a horizontal line 170a in the graph 30a of Fig. 6. Duringthis interval, the rollers 108 and 138 ride along the circular portions110 and 154 of the cams 106 and 134.

While the operation of the cracker feeding mechanism has already beenfully described, it may be helpful to review the cycle of operation.Initially, the platform is fully raised and is supporting the lower endof the stack in the magazine 16, inasmuch as the grippers 58 and 60 areopen. In the first stage of the cycle, the cam is effective to lower theplatform 20 until the platform-actuating arm 44 engages the threadedstop 56 mounted on the cariage 34. Thus, the position of the stop 56determines the amount by which the platform 20 is lowered in the initialstage of operation.

After its initial downward movement, the platform 20 pauses while thecam 68 permits the grippers 58 and 60 to close against the stack ofcrackers held in the magazine 16. It will be recalled that the grippersengage the stack immediately above the initial position of the platform20. Thus, the lower portion of the stack, corresponding in height to thedistance through which the platform is moved downwardly in the initialstage of the operation, is not supported by the grippers. After thegrippers have been closed on the stack of crackers, the cam 106 iseffective to lower the carriage 34 and thereby shift the cam 30 bodilyin a downward direction. Accordingly, the platform 20 and the smallstack of crackers carried thereby are lowered an additional amount.

Next, the cam 134 advances the ejector 116 and thereby pushes thecrackers off the platform 20 and onto the conveyor 114. The ejector 116is then retracted to its initial position. At the same time, theplatform 20 is raised to its initial elevation, just below the grippers158 and 160. Finally, the grippers 158 and are opened to release thestack for downward movement with the platform 20 in the next cycle ofoperations.

It will be recognized that the position of the adjustable stop 56determines the exact height of the stacks of crackers counted out anddelivered by the mechanism. Thus, the stop may be adjusted to insureaccurate count or to vary the count.

It will be apparent that the mechanism may be operated at high speedwithout damaging the crackers. The meshing arrangement of the platformand ejector rods provides for simultaneous movement of the platform andthe ejector without interference. Thus, both the platform and theejector may be returned to their initial positions simultaneously.

It will be recognized that the mechanism is simple and inexpensive inconstruction, yet is effective and dependable in operation. A widevariety of flat articles, such as crackers, cookies and the like may behandled by the feeding mechanism.

Various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may beemployed without departing from the truespirit and scope of theinvention as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for feeding crackers or the like in stacked groups ofpredetermined height, the combination comprising a magazine forreceiving a supply of crackers or the like in an elongated stacktherein, said magazine having a discharge opening for the crackers atits lower end, a platform movable vertically below said dischargeopening for receiving the crackers therefrom, said platform comprising aplurality of spaced generally parallel and horizontal rods, a verticallymovable carriage, a rotatable cam mounted on said carriage, a camfollower engaging said cam and connected to said platform, said camhaving a portion for lowering said platform a predetermined distance tolower the elongated stack of crackers a corresponding amount, anadjustable stop on said carriage for arresting downward movement of saidplatform at a first elevation, gripper means disposed adjacent the lowerend of said magazine and above said first elevation for engaging thecrackers to prevent further downward movement of the portion of theelongated stack opposite and above said gripper means, means for openingsaid gripper means prior to lowering movement of said platform, meansfor closing said gripper means subsequent to movement of said platformto said first elevation, second rotatable cam means operativelyconnected to said carriage and having a portion for lowering saidcarriage a predetermined distance to lower said platform to a secondlower elevation and thereby separate the portion of said elongated stackbelow said gripper means from the 'asrasab portion of said stacksupported by said gripper means, an ejectorfor pushing the crackers offthe platform, said ejector comprising a plurality of spaced generallyparallel and vertical rods meshing with and movable between saidhorizontal platform rods, meanslfor advancing said ejector subsequent tolowering of said platform to said second elevation, said first cam,second cam means and last mentioned means having respective portions forsimultaneously raising said platformrelative to said carriage, raisingsaid carriage and saidplatform to their initial elevations, andretracting said ejector to its initial position. i V

2. In a mechanism for feeding articles such as crackers or the like,thecombination' comprising a magazine for receiving a supply of thearticles in an elongated stack therein, aplatfortn movablegenerally'vertically below said magazine for receiving the crackerstherefrom, a a vertically movahle carriage,"a cam mounted on saidcarriage and operatively connected to said platform, said cam having aportion for lowering said platform a prede termined distance to lowerthe elongated stack of articles a corresponding amount, an adjustablestop on said carriage for arresting downward movement of said platformat a first elevation, gripper means disposed adjacent the lower end ofsaid magazine and above said first elevation for engaging the articlesto prevent further downward movement of the portion of the elongatedstack opposite and above said gripper means, means for opening saidgripper means prior to lowering movement of said platform, means forclosing said gripper means subsequent to movement of said platform 'tosaid first elevation, second cam means operatively connected to saidthereima platform movable generally vertically below said magazine forreceiving the crackers therefrom, a vertically movable carriage, meansto actuate said platform including a cam mounted on said carriage, andmeans for. operatively connecting said, cam to said plat-. form, saidcam having a portion for lowering said platform a predetermined distanceto lower the elongated stack of articles a corresponding amount, anadjustable stop on said carriage for arresting downward movement of saidplatform at a first elevation, holding means disposed adjacenti thelower end of said magazine and above said firsteleva'tion for engagingthe articles to prevent further downward movement of the portion of theelongated, stack above said holding means, holder actuating means" forreleasing said holding means prior to lowering movement of saidplatform, said holder actuating means including means for activatingsaid holding means subsequent to, movement of said platform. to saidfirst elevation', means to actuate said carriage including second cammeans, and'means for operatively connecting said second cam means tosaid carriage, said second cam means havinga portion for lowering saidcarriage a predetermined distance to lower said platform to a secondlower elevation and thereby separate the portion of said elongated stackbelow said holding means from the portionof said stack supported by saidholding means, an ejector for pushing the articles ofi the platform,ejector actuating means for advancing said ejector subsequent tolowering of said platform to said second elevation, and

carriage and having a portion for lowering said carriage a predetermineddistance to lower said platform to a second lower elevation and therebyseparate the portion of said elongated stack below said gripper meansfrom the portion of said stack supported by said gripper means, anejector for pushing the articles off the platform, means for advancingsaid ejector subsequent to lowering of said platform to said secondelevation, said first cam, second cam means and last mentioned meanshaving respective portions for simultaneously raising said platformrelative to said carriage, raising said carriage and said platform totheir initial elevations, and retracting said ejector to its initialposition.

3, In a mechanism for feeding articles such as crackers or the like, thecombination comprising a magazine for receiving a supply of the articlesin an elongated stack means for simultaneously operating said firstmentioned cam, said holder actuating means, said second cam means, andsaid ejector actuating means, said first cam, second cam means andejector actuating means having respective portions for simultaneouslyraising said platform relative to said carriage, raising said carriageand said platform to their initial elevations, and retracting saidejector to its initial position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGermany Mar. 24, 1933

